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Jailed gangster's reach gobsmacks UP police

The Uttar Pradesh government has ordered a high-level probe into notorious gangster Babloo Srivastava's operations from Naini jail in Allahabad.

This follows the arrest of another criminal, Manjeet Singh alias "Mange", by the UP police's Special Task Force in Calcutta a few days ago. Singh carried a reward of Rs 100,000 on his head, and is believed to be very close to Srivastava, who himself is a close associate of gangster Dawood Ibrahim.

The police are focussing on Srivastava's use of cellular phone in the jail to manage his criminal operations, UP Jail Minister Shiv Pratap Shukla said.

Following Singh's confessions, Shukla felt, a fresh inquiry was needed. "It is really necessary to know as to how and from where Babloo Srivastava arranged the cell phone if at all the information is correct," he said.

The probe would also include Srivastava's alleged connection with politicians, bureaucrats and police officers in the state, the minister said, adding that he has instructed the police to submit its report 'at the earliest.'

In the STF action in Calcutta, four criminals were gunned down and two hurt. Singh, one of the injured, revealed many facets of Srivastava's operation, including his nexus with the state authorities, police said.

The sleuths also recovered several SIM cards from him.

His government, Shukla said, has taken the reports about Srivastava's operations seriously, and no person, irrespective of his position, would be spared if found guilty.

UNI

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